“I can see you're not mature enough to handle him.”
Laughter. Mean and aggressive.
“Not mature enough? Are you serious? You ass. How dare you say that to me.”
“His room was ransacked. He ran away. And all that happened while I was only gone for the afternoon. What did you do to him?”
“What did he say?”
“He said nothing. He didn't have to say anything. I could put two and two together.”
“I didn't do a thing.”
“Why do you call him mutt?”
“That's what he is, isn't he?”
“No. And that's another reason I changed my mind.”
“And now you're telling me to get out of your house. Wonderful.”
“I'm telling you you're ready to get your own place.”
“Yeah. You don't care that this is where I can feel closest to Papa.”
“I never said you couldn't come for visits.”
“Why would I do that? You don't have time for me. You don't want to see me when I am home. Visits would be a waste of time. But don't worry,Daddy, I'm out of here tonight. You won't have to worry about seeing me ever again.”
“That's not what I want and you know it.”
“I don't know it. And it's what I want. I'll leave tonight. Happy?”
“No. But I think you'll like having your own place for a change.”
“Asshole. When I get settled I'll send for my things unless that's not good enough for you, either.”
“Malin, I don't want you to leave angry. You have to know that messing with other people's stuff isn't the way to behave. Breaking things, insulting others, it's not right.”
“Stop trying to lecture me. I'm not a baby.”
“Then quit acting like one.”
“That's it between us, then! I won't be in your way anymore. Never again!”
A door slammed.
Tane called out Malin’s name three times getting no response.
I leaned further out the door but heard no other sounds, not even Tane walking away. On tiptoes in my bare feet, I walked to the railing that overlooked the second floor. From my vantage it was hard to see down the hall toward Malin's rooms. But from what I could see, everything looked clear. Where had Tane gone?
I moved forward a little and looked down the other hall. I could only see about halfway to Tane's bedroom door but it was enough. He was leaning against the wall just within sight. He must have started walking away and stopped.
As I watched, he didn't move for almost a minute. Was he just catching his breath? Had he changed his mind and was gearing himself up to go back and knock on Malin’s door?
I looked back toward Malin’s rooms. There was no sound. Nothing. Not even his usual loud music.
When I looked back at Tane, his head was bowed. Then slowly, his body began to slide down the wall until he was on his knees. I blinked hard but couldn't look away. Tane’s arms wrapped around his chest and he bent forward until his head almost touched his knees.
